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Dec, 9,

w. J. ASHTON VENDING mkcx Original Filed new 20, 1922 /-7 INVENTOR. W145 m I I X ATTORN improvements in vending rac s.

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Towall whom. it concern: I v p Be it known that ,Wrnnusr J. Assmu, a citizen of the United States, at Dallas, in the county of Dallas andState of Texas, have invented new and useful: Im-

provements in Vending-Racks, of which-the ollowingisa specification. k g I This invention relates to new [and useful he object of the invention is to ovide in combination with a vendin rack avrng a plurality of'inclined channe for contaming 'su rnnposed packages or cans of merchandise, means arched over the channels for retaining the-next to the bottom pa or can, when the lowem package or can is lifted from the channel.

A further ob'ect isto rovide a ard over the channelsw ichmay utilize asa rice tag siiipport, owingvto the disposition o the Knother ob'ect is to provide in combination with the inclined c annels a counter for the convenience and aid of thecustomer; also to rovide an elevated platform at the rear or use of the clerk in filling the rack.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanlying drawings, in which an example of t e invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a rack constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same,

Fi 3 is an enlarged partial vertical section view,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectlon on the line 4-4 of 3, 1

Fig. 5 is a eta1l of the price tag holder,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view. showlng the electric switch for indicating that the goods need re lenishing, and.

Fig. is a plan view of the same.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a counter which is mounted on top of a. frame work 11. The counter and frame work may have any desired lenfih and may constitute a unit, several of w 'ch may be used.

.The frame work is provided'with shelves 12, on which articles of a fragile nature and other be stored, which not be conveniently "dled in the racks.-

Cross bars .lfl -have their forward ends secured under the counter and attached to the upperportion of the frame work. These rross bars extendsrearwardly and have their t- 1 rear ends fastenedlto the upper ends of legs Posts extend some distance above the bars 13 and ,are fastened to the latter a short distance from the rear end's thereof. A platform 16 is supported on the bars 13 in rear of the i 15. A top burl? connects the upperlends of the posts whereby a frame or arch is formed above the bars 13. Short standards 18 are mounted at each end of the counter. The upper ends of the standards are. notched out to receive the lower end of a display board 19, at the lower end of which is mounted a guard stri 20 extending thereacross. A similar boar 21 having a guard strip 22, is mounted between the standards below the first board.

and have their upper ends secured within the frame and supported on cross stri 23, attached to the posts 15. Parallel games 24 extend fromthe posts 15 down to the counter,

to lend stabilit to the rack.

Each board 15 provided with a pluralit of concaved: channels or grooves 25 exten ing in parallel relation from the frame downwardly to the ard strips. These grooves are open at t e top 'so that access may be had thereto from the rear of the frame. The Storekeeper mounts the latform 16 and inserts the packages suc as canned goods and similar packages in the grooves 25 from the rear. The packages slide down the grooves and fill the same as is shown inthe drawings. Near the bottom of each groove is mounted a curved transverse $18111 26 which is secured to the board on eac side of each channel. These guards are arranged so as to overhang the second packa e from the bottom of the grooves, and their ction is to retain the second package in the groove when the lowermost packa e is pulled therefrom. .It will be seen that i it were not for such an arrangement, that when the lowermost package was lifted from the groove, the next one and perhaps even the next package thereabove, might be dislodged.

These boards are disposed at an inclination to become empty,

On each guard I mount a spring clip, 27 in which a price tag 28 may be conveniently displayed. It is :pointed out that if desired the boards 19 and 21, may be formed. of a plurality of elongated members, each containing a ve 25. These members may be remov and others added or the width of the boards may be varied by ad other members as the occasion may deman When the customer removes the lowermost package, the other packa in the same groove will slide down, so t at a fresh package is always presented to the purchaser. The storeke'eper may re lenish the rack from the rear without inter ering with the customer or the vending. The goods will be adequately d' layed andthe stock Wlll be kept moving, t us obviating the chances of the same becoming stale.

In orderthat the storekeeper may be noti- 'fied when a certain groove of goods is about firovide an electrical enunciating system. the bottom of each ve I provide a recess. 29 in which is mounted a bowed spring member 30 having a plunger 31 secured to its underside and extending hthrough an aperture 32 in the board. e plunger has a: laterally bent finger 33 om its lower end adapted to contact with a contact plate 34 fastened on the bottom of the board. The sprin member is fastened by a bolt 35 mg t rough ,the board and having an t A attached thereto. A circuit wire. B is attached to the contact late 34 and when the circuit is closed by e gement of the parts 33 and 34, a suitab e signal will be energized as is obvious. Itfis not considered n w: ry to either illustrate or describe the character of signal other than to say that it is located'at a convenient place so as to be observed by the Storekeeper. It will be seen that when an article is in the groove over the member 30; the latter will be de ressed so that the contacts 33 and 34', will separated and the circuit broken. By arran ing the member 30 under the third artic e from the bottom of the groove, it will be seen that as long as there are three articles in the groove no si al will be given, but when the third article is removed and not replaced by one thereabove, the member 30- will spri upwardly, close the circuit and energize e signal. It will be seen that by this arrangement the storekeeper is notified; immediatel that there are onl two articles left in t groove of the from which the signal is 'ven and this will enable him to quickly replenish the stock. Such an arservice rangement is very important in self device is particularly messes... a a o in stores which employ for serving the ncal circuit wire 'moun itmaybeused' Various changes inthe size and construction of the arts as well as modifications, may be ma e without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim, is:

1. A vendi structure inclu ing a counter and a rear sup rt spaced from and. extending above an counter, aplurality of short standards mounted on and counter, an inclined disboard having its upper end secured tor rear sigport and its lower and sup-' ported by '0 said standards, said boardaving a series of parallel longitudinal grooves, each having a curvature for snugly receiving a plurality of cylindrical artic es in superposed order, and an arcuate guard adjacent the lower end of each oove in position to overhang the next to t 0 lowermost article, said guard having means holdi a price tag in juxtaposition to the-artic es in said groove.

2. A vending-Zack comprising a frame structure inclu a counter and a rear support spaced from and extendin above said counter and an elevated plat orm behind said saplport, a plurality 0 short standards on said counter, an inclined "disboard having its upper end secured to P 9; sai rear support and its lower end supby' the said! standards, said board a vmg a series of parallel longitudinal grooves, each having a curvature for snugl receiving a plurality of cylindrical artic es in supe order, and an arcuate guard adjacent the lower end of each ve in position to overhang the next to t e lowermost article, said guardhaving means for holding a price tag in juxta-position to the articles in said groove.

3. A vending rack comprising a frame structure includin a rear suppgrt and a front support of ass hei ht t the rear support, an inclined disp ay board having its upper end secured to said rear support and its lower end secured to said front sulpport, said board having a series of para el ongitudinal 'ves, each havingla curvature for snug y receiving a plum 'ty ofcylindrical articles in superposed order, an arcuate guard adjacent the lower end of "each ve 1n positlon to overhang the next to e lowermost article, said guard having means holding a; pricetag in juxtaposition to the articles in said groove.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

wmam J. ASHTON.

rack comprising i as. i 

